Wishes about the present and future

1. wish + past simple is used to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be
different.
o I wish I spoke Italian. (I don’t speak Italian)

o I wish I had a big car. (I don’t have a big car)

o I wish I were on a beach. (I’m in the office)

o I wish it were the weekend. (It’s only Wednesday)

2. wish + past continuous is used to express that we want to be doing a different action in the
present (or future).

o I wish I were lying on a beach now. (I’m sitting in the office)

o I wish it weren’t raining. (It is raining)

o I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow)

Note:
In Standard English we use “I wish I were…” and “I wish it were…”. However, “I wish I was…”
and “I wish it was” are in common usage. Using this form, the examples above would be:

 I wish I was on a beach.

 I wish it was the weekend.
 I wish I was lying on a beach now.
 I wish it wasn’t raining.

Wishes about the past

wish + past perfect is used to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.

 I wish I hadn’t eaten so much. (I ate a lot)

 I wish they’d come on holiday with us. (They didn’t come on holiday)
 I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school)
 Wish + would
wish + would + bare infinitive is used to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a
present situation or action.
o I wish you would stop smoking.
You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me.
o I wish it would stop raining.
I’m impatient because it is raining and I want to go outside.
o I wish she’d be quiet.
I am annoyed because she is speaking.

Wish and hope

To express that you want something to happen in the future (not wanting a situation to be different,
and not implying impatience or annoyance) hope is used instead of wish.
o I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.
“I wish it was sunny tomorrow” is not correct.
o I hope she passes her exam next week.
“I wish she were passing her exam next week” is not correct.
o I hope the plane doesn’t crash tomorrow.
“I wish the plane wouldn’t crash tomorrow” is not correct.

Wish and want

wish + infinitive or wish + object + infinitive is used to mean want in a formal situation.

 I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)

 I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)
 I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)

Wish in fixed expressions

I/we wish you… is used in fixed expressions.

 I wish you a happy birthday.

 We wish you good luck in your new job.
 BÀI TẬP VỀ CÂU ƯỚC VỚI WISH

Bài 1: Cho dạng đúng của động từ trong ngoặc:

1. I wish he ……………. here now. (be)

2. She wishes you ……………. better. (feel)

3. I wish that you ……………. here yesterday. (be)

4. I wish he ……………. he work tonight. (finish)

5. We wish you ……………. tomorrow. (come)

6. She wishes she ……………. the window last night. (open)

7. I wish you ……………. earlier yesterday. (leave)

8. We wish they ……………. with us last weekend. (come)

9. They wish he ……………. with them the next day. (come)

10. They wish we ……………. them some food yesterday. (give)

11. We wish you ……………. yesterday. (arrive)

12. I wish I ……………. the answers. (not lose)

13. You wish you ……………. what to do last year. (know)

14. I wish that he ……………. us next year. (visit)

15. She wishes that she ……………. at home now. (be)

16. I wish I ……………. the news. (hear)

17. You wish that he ……………. you last week. (help)

18. I wish I ……………. the subject more interesting. (find)

19. He always wishes he ……………. rich. (be)

20. The boy wishes that he ……………. the competition the next day. (win)

21. I wish the weather ……………. warmer now. (be)

22. They wish he ……………. them next week. (telephone)

23. He wishes you ……………. him in the future. (help)

24. She wishes the mail ……………. soon. (come)

25. They wish she ……………. the arrangements for the meeting next week. (make)
26. We wish they ……………. or we will miss the bus. (hurry)

27. You wish the door …………….. (open)

28. He wishes he ……………. us the book. (show)

29. They wish we ……………. for them. (wait)

30. I wish you ……………. to me. (to write)

31. She wishes you ……………. her. (to join)

32. He wishes he ……………. ready. (to be)

33. She wishes she ……………. how to sing. (to know)

34. They wish it ……………. warmer. (to be)

35. Does he wish he ……………. younger? (to be)

36. She wishes she ……………. the arrangements earlier. (make)

37. They wish they ……………. the appointment. (not forget)

38. We wish it ……………. yesterday. (not snow)

39. We always wish we ……………. fluent in other languages. (be)

40. I wish I ……………. near my school. ( live)

41. I wish I ……………. her address. ( know)

42. I wish I ……………. taller. (be )

43. I wish I ……………..her now. (meet)

44. I wish he ………………….here tomorrow. (not leave)

45. She wishes she …………..her homework last night. (finish)

46. I wish they ………….here last Sunday. (come)

47. I wish they …………….us last week. (visit)

48. She wishes she …………… her holiday at the seaside last weekend. ( spend)

49. I wish the weather ……………….hot yesterday. (be not)

50. I wish I …………………a doctor when I grow up. ( be )

51. They wish it …………………..tomorrow. (not rain)

52. We wish we ….……………. a test next Tuesday. (not have)

53. I wish it ………………….. fine on the party next week. (be)

54. I wish tomorrow ………………a beautiful day. (be)

Bài 2: Chọn đáp án đúng để hoàn thành câu sau.

1. I wish I (have/ has/ had) a lot of interesting book.

2. I wish I (would meet/ met/ meet ) her tomorrow.

3. I wish I (was/ were/ am) your sister.

4. I wish they ( won/ had won/ would win) the match last Sunday

5. I wish they ( played/ playing/ play) soccer well.

6. She wishes she (will/ would/ can) come here to visit us.

7. I wish yesterday ( were /was/had been ) a better day.

8. I wish I (can speak/ could speak/ will speak) many languages

9. I wish tomorrow ( were/ will be/ would be) Sunday.

10. I wish I ( am/ was/ were) a movie star .

Bài 3: Tìm và sửa lỗi sai trong các câu sau.

1. She wish she could speak English well.

2. I wish it didn’t rained now.

3. I wish I was a doctor to save people.

4. I wish I have more time to look after my family.

5. He wishes it didn’t rain yesterday.

6. I wish my father gives up smoking in the near future.

7. I wish I studied very well last year.

8. I wish you will come to my party next week.

9. I wish it stops raining now.

10. I wish you are my sister.

11. She wishes she is the most beautiful girl in the world.

12. I wish Miss Brown will come here and stay with us next week.

13. I wish I am at home with my family now.

14. I wish I could been there with you.

15. She wish she could go home now.

Bài 4: Viết lại các câu sau sử dụng câu ước với “wish”.

1. I have to study hard.

-> I wish ……………………………………….……………

2. We had a lot of homework yesterday.

-> I wish ……………………………………………………………………………….

3. It is raining heavily.

-> I wish ……………………………………….………………………..

4. It was cold last night. .

-> I wish ……………………………………….……..

5. They work slowly.

-> I wish ……………………………………….…..…………

5. She doesn’t join in the trip.

-> I wish ……………………………………….……

6. I am not good at English.

-> I wish ……………………………………….………

7. He studies badly.

-> I wish ……………………………………….………………..

8. He doesn’t like playing sports.

-> I wish ……………………………………….…

9. I don’t have a computer.

-> I wish ……………………………..………….………

10. Today isn’t a holiday.

-> I wish ……………………………………….…………

11. I can’t sing this song.

-> I wish ………………………………………….…………

12. He was punished by his mother.

-> I wish ……………………………………………………

13. They won’t come here again.

-> I wish ………………………………………….…………

14. He won’t go swimming with me.

-> I wish …………………………………………………….

15. We didn’t understand them.

-> We wish ………………………………………….……..

16. I will be late for school.

-> I wish ………………………………………….……….

17. The bus was late today.

-> I wish ………………………………………….………..

18. She doesn’t like this place.

-> I wish ………………………………………….………

19. These students talked too much in class.

-> I wish ………………………………………………….

20. I can’t play basketball.

-> I wish ………………………………………….……….

ĐÁP ÁN

Bài 1:

1. were 2. felt 3. had been 4. would finish

5. would come 6. had 7. had left 8. had come

9. would come 10. had given 11. had arrived 12. had not lost

13. had known 14. would visit 15. were 16. had heard

17. had helped 18. found 19. were 20. would win

21. were 22. would telephone 23. would help 24. would come

25. would make 26. would hurry 27. would open 28. had shown
29. would wait 30. would write 31. would join 32. were

33. knew 34. were 35. were 36. had made

37. had not forgotten 38. hadn't snowed 39.were 40. Lived

41. knew 42. were 43. met 44. wouldn’t leave

45. had finished 46. had come 47. had visit 48. had spent

49. weren’t hot 50. were 51. wouldn’t rain 52. wouldn’t have

53. would be 54. would be

Bài 2:

1. had

2. would meet

3. were

4. had won

5. played

6. would

7. had been

8. could speak

9. would be

10. were

Bài 3:

1. wish -> wishes

2.rained -> rain

3. was -> were

4. have -> had

5. didn’t rain -> hadn’t rain

6. gives -> would give

7. studied -> had studied

8. will -> would

9. stops -> stopped

10. are -> were

11. is - were

12. will -> would

13. am -> were

14. been -> be

15. wish -> wishes

Bài 4:

1. I wish I didn’t have to study.

2. I wish we hadn’t had a lot of homework yesterday.

3. I wish it didn’t rain heavily.

4. I wish it hadn’t been cold last night.

5. I wish they didn’t work slowly.

5.I wish she joined in the trip.

6. I wish I were good at English.

7. I wish he didn’t studied badly.

8. I wish he liked playing sports.

9.I wish I had a computer.

10. I wish today were a holiday.

11. I wish I could sing this song.

12.I wish he hadn’t been punished by his mother.

13.I wish they would come here again.

14. I wish I he would go swimming with me.

15. We wish we had understood them.

16.I wish I wouldn’t be late for school.

17. I wish the bus hadn’t been late today.

18. I wish she liked this place.

19. I wish these students hadn’t talked too much in class.

20. I wish I could play basketball.